Folding bed



Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. SIMON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO QUALITY METAL BED CO.,

F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FOLDING BED.

Application led February My invention relates to improvements in folding beds, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an improvement over that form lof the device shown in my co-pending application on folding bed, Serial No. 78,995,tiled January 2, 1926. The improvement consists in a dashpot for controlling the swinging of the bed frame into closed position, this dashpot cooperating with spring means for swinging the bed frame into folded position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a. device of the type described which is extremely simple in construction, and which prevents the vibration of the bed frame after it has been swung into closed position.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the device, and

Figure 2 shows the device operatively applied to my improved folding bed.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of the bed construction illustrated and described in my (zo-pending application. To the spring frame 1 of the bed, I secure a piston A, and to the frame 2 of the bed, I secure a cylinder B. The piston A and the cylinder B form the dashpot. It is obvious that the dashpot may be appliedto folding beds other than that disclosed in Figure 2 without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. The purpose of the dashpot is to control the movement of the spring frame 1 justprior to the stopping of the spring frame in closed position.

The special construction of the dashpot is shown in Figure 1, and it will be noted from this figure that the dashpot comprises a cylinder 3 having an outwardly flared open end 4, this flared portion being provided for guiding a piston 5 into the cylinder. The cylinder 3 has an air escape opening` 6 therein, this opening being small enough to cause the piston to travel slowly toward the closed end 7 of the cylinder. Y

The piston A and the cylinder B are 1, 1926. Serial No. 85,304.

mounted on the bed in a novel manner to permit the parts to swing wit-h respect to their supporting members as the piston enters the cylinder. I will first describe the means for mounting the cylinder on the bed. This means comprises a strap 8 whichis .secured to the frame 2 by means of rivets 9 or the like. Midway between the sides of the frame 2 I secure a cylinder-supporting member 10 by means of bolts 11. The member 10 is pivotally connected at 12, see Figure 2, to a cylinder-carrying yoke 13.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the yoke 18 is provided with a cam edge 14 against whichspring-pressed plungers yieldingly contact. AThe plungers 15 are carried by the member 10, and two or more of these plungers may be provided if desired. In Figure 1, I show the cylinder 3 in the position it will assume when the piston 5 is received in the cylinder, while in Figure 2, I show the relative positions of the piston and the cylinder when the spring frame 1 is in open position.

The purpose of the spring-pressed plungers 15 is to hold the cylinder 3 in the position into which it is swung, i. e., in the position shown in Figure 1, or the position shown in Figure 2. The edge 14'is cammed` slightly to permit the plungers 15 to exert a force substantially at right angles to the surface 14, regardless of the position the surface 14 assumes with respect to the plungers.

The special piston construction is shown in Figures 1 and 2, and it will be noted from Figure 2 that the piston rod 16 is pivotally secured at 17 to a bracket 18, the bracket in turn being secured to the spring frame 1 by means of a cap screw 19. The bracket has a recess 2O therein in which the piston rod 16 swings.

A leaf spring 21 of the shape shown in Figure 1 is disposed between the spring frame 1 and the bracket 18, and has its free end bearing against a finger 22, this finger being rigidly secured to the piston rod 16. When the piston 5 is free of the cylinder 3, the spring 21 swings the piston rod and causes the rod to abut the inner edge of the recess 20. This position aligns the piston 5 with the flared opening 4 as the piston enters the cylinder, thus providing a device which will operate very eiiiciently. After the pist0n 5 has once entered the flared portion 4,

further ,movement of theV piston4 into the Cylinder will eausethe piston-rod 16to swing about the pivot 17 into the position shown in ligure Land will, also cause the cylinder 3 to swingfroin theposition shown inFigure 2 into a substantially"horizontal position. From the foregoing description of thefvlrions parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. As heretoio're stated, the device may be applied to folding' beds othertlianlthe type shown in the drawing'. Theoperator i-,n closing the bed, ylifts the foot portion 23 of thebed, `tlius causlng the springti'ame l Ato pivot about thei'od 24. Springs 25 aid the'operatoriin lifting the spring frame into closed position.

Itwll: be noted-'that as the spring framed nearsptheend of itsswing into 4vertical position, the momentum of the springframe#V together lwith the fact that as the spring frame nears .vertical position, the springsv 25 Will have'lessweight to lift, will 'eausefz the springs Qfto move; the spring iframe 1, more` quickly.

If s this quickened movement werev permitted at the endl vo-:tlie .swinging of 4the 'spring `iframeiinto elosedposition, the abrupt stopping ofthe@springt'frame when in closed. po-

sition would cause the iframe to vibrate. The

function of the dashpot is` to overcome this tendent-yv ot the spring iframe to vibrate.

rIhe piston is designed to enter the cylinder 3 at the point Where the spring frame l nears the end oi. its movement. The slow exhaust of air through the opening (3 causes thepiston 5 to create a force which opposes the force of the springs 25. The springs are. strong enoughto cause the piston 5 to move .into the position shown in Figure l, :but as soon vas the piston readies this posi- Ation, theiioroe exerted, by the spring 25 has been .expended and the fi'aniem'illE remain in closed position Without vibrating' for a short length of time asis the oase wherev the daslr pot- .is not provided.

'I claim:

,The combination with a folding bed, ofv u `lCylinder pivotally carried by said bed and having a dared open. end, a piston carried by the swingable-franie ofsaid bed andbeing `pivotall7 Connected thereto, spring .means foryieldingly holdingsaid piston in `a positionto.permit the piston to readily entertlie Cylinder, and spring means for yieldngly holding` the cylinder in the-Yaril ons positions into which it is. swung.

WILLIAM M. SIMON. 

